Solar power in Vermont

Solar power in Vermont on rooftops can provide 18% of all electricity used in Vermont.[1] A 2012 estimate suggests that a typical 5 kW system costing $25,000 before credits and utility savings will pay for itself in 10 years, and generate a profit of $34,956 over the rest of its 25 year life.[2]

Net metering is available for up to at least 500 kW generation, but is capped at 4% of utilities peak demand. Excess generation is rolled over each month but is lost once each year. Group net metering is also allowed.[3] Vermont is given an A for net metering and a C for interconnection.[4] A feed-in tariff was created in 2009, but is limited to 50 MW and is fully subscribed. The cap increases by 5 to 10 MW/year starting in 2013 until it reaches 127.5 MW in 2022. It is available for solar, wind, methane, and biomass.[5][6] Seven solar projects are receiving payments, of $0.30/kWh, for 25 years.[7]

Vermont has five solar arrays of at least 1 MW, the 2.2 MW SunGen Sharon 1 in Sharon completed in July 2012,[8] the 2.1 MW concentrating photovoltaics array installed in July 2011 in South Burlington,[9][10] the 1.5 MW photovoltaic array also in South Burlington installed in October 2011,[11] the 1 MW photovoltaic array in Ferrisburgh,[12] and the 2 MW Williamstown Solar Project.[13]